Launcher for AirPort Utility v5.6.1
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The Launcher is a small macOS utility that runs AirPort Utility v5.6.1 on versions of macOS that would otherwise reject it. That older AirPort Utility is required to configure older AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme units after Apple’s newer Utility dropped support for them.
Prefer the .dmg unless you specifically want the .zip. Both packages contain the same files. Support discussion: Omnifora topic.
Compatible Systems
AirPort Utility v5.6.1 via the Launcher for OS X 10.7 Lion through macOS 10.15 Catalina (and historically later releases where the approach still works). See the troubleshooting section on this page for common issues.
Disclaimer
This software is offered as-is and is not authorized, approved, or recognized by Apple Inc. Use at your own risk. By downloading, you agree to hold Bristlecone IT Services harmless in connection with your use of the software.
What the Launcher Is, What the Launcher Does, and Why It Exists
The Launcher is a small utility for OS X (compatible versions listed, supra). Using the Launcher, it is possible to run AirPort Utility v5.6.1 under versions of OS X that would otherwise reject the application. This older version of AirPort Utility is needed to configure older AirPort units (both AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme). For whatever reason, Apple updated AirPort Utility and the new version does not support older AirPort units; obviously, this presents a problem for people who still own these older units.
Everything the Launcher does can be accomplished through Terminal (access to a machine running OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is also required). The details of how to do this are included, infra.
How the Launcher Does What It Does
With the release of OS X 10.9 “Mavericks” Apple updated file Apple80211 (contained in /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/Apple80211.framework/Versions/A). Whatever the other effects of this update, it broke backwards compatibility with older versions of AirPort Utility. Thankfully, the fix is simple: Inject an older version of the file when launching older versions of AirPort Utility. This is precisely what the Launcher does.
When you run the Launcher, it simply injects the OS X 10.8 “Mountain Lion” version of file Apple80211 (which the Launcher contains) and then runs AirPort Utility 5.6.1 (which is included in the download of the Launcher). That’s it. One file is the difference between AirPort Utility 5.6.1 running and throwing an error under more recent versions of OS X.
Troubleshooting
FAQ
Common Issues
What the Launcher Is Not
The Launcher is not a general-purpose ‘launcher’ for old software. It works only with AirPort Utility v5.6.1.